With only two rounds of the SC season to go (albeit they cover three weekends) things are really starting to get prickly – trades are low, teams are full and any missing player can be the difference between a vital victory or a devastating loss. The first half of this week already sees a couple of popular picks – along with a few unique PODs – out for at least a few rounds. Do you have the ability to trade them out, or is your team going to suffer?
Aaron SANDILANDS - Fremantle - $502,300 Av 110
Selected in an incredible 71% of SC teams, most of us have been holding our breath and waiting for the moment when the Big Giant would be rested – well, it’s finally come. Listed as having a ‘back injury’, SANDI is surely just being rested this week – effectively giving him a fortnight rest, with the Dockers having the split-round bye the following weekend? Regardless, if you don’t have bench coverage you are insane – but still, that being said, you made need to move him on.
Aaron SANDILANDS - Fremantle - $502,300 Av 110
Selected in an incredible 71% of SC teams, most of us have been holding our breath and waiting for the moment when the Big Giant would be rested – well, it’s finally come. Listed as having a ‘back injury’, SANDI is surely just being rested this week – effectively giving him a fortnight rest, with the Dockers having the split-round bye the following weekend? Regardless, if you don’t have bench coverage you are insane – but still, that being said, you made need to move him on.
Options : Will MINSON (Bull) - $505,000 Av 98
Paddy RYDER (Ess) - $496,000 Av 98
Stefan MARTIN (Bris) - $450,000 Av 105
Ben McEVOY (Haw) - $442,500 Av 90
Verdict : If you are confident LUEY won’t be back to spoil the party too much, MARTIN’s scores are too much to ignore. A safer bet might be MINSON, or McEVOY.
Kade KOLODJASHNIJ - Gold Coast - $339,600 Av 72
The Suns aren’t playing this weekend so you might have a week to mull over this one, but popular rookie defender KK has tweaked his hammy and is expected to miss somewhere in the vicinity of 2 to 3 weeks. At this vital point in the SC season that’s too much risk for my liking, and although he has served his purposein the 11% of SC teams who have him it might be time to get him out – particularly if you are desperate to win to keep your finals chances alive.
Options : Dustin FLETCHER (Ess) - $371,300 Av 84
Dane RAMPE (Syd) - $356,200 Av 76
Sean DEMPSTER (StK) - $346,000 Av 77
Nick VLASTUIN (Rich) - $340,800 Av 67
Verdict : Not too much to bargain with in this lot – if you can afford it, stretch up to FLETCHER as his team is in a must-win situation each week.
Andrew WALKER - Carlton - $436,500 Av 88
It hasn’t been a great year for rebounding Blues defender WALKER, who has struggled through injury and form resulting in him having a lesser impact than last year. The 7% of SC teams who have him will be marginally happy with his 88 pt per game average, but now he’s gone in for knee surgery and won’t be seen again this year. Perhaps one to watch for 2015?
Options : Sam FISHER (St. K) - $430,300 Av 102
Kade SIMPSON (Carl) - $421,800 Av 96
Sam MITCHELL (Haw) - $412,800 Av 90
Verdict : It’s a no-brainer here. MITCHELL at that price is an absolute steal. Still if you want a POD who could go okay…anyone got the guts to latch on to FISHER?
Hayden BALLANTYNE - Fremantle - $400,700 Av 75
The 1.5% of SC teams that have selected BALLA in their lineup obviously like living on the edge right? How else could you choose a player who is so prone to hitting and getting hit? This time he’s done the whacking, out for just the one week after a misdemeanor last weekend. Its only one week, but the replacements offer some juicy potential…
Options : Josh J KENNEDY (WCE) - $395,000 Av 77
Steven MAY (GC) - $382,600 Av 77
Chad WINGARD (Port) - $377,200 Av 80
Nick RIEWOLDT (StK) - $376,900 Av 85
Verdict : Never write off a champion. With old mate Lenny Hayes announcing his pending retirement, expect Big Roo to put in a few stellar performances in the next few weeks. Get on board.
That’s it for the first half of Round 18 – fingers crossed it keeps all our premium players injury free as we sneak closer to SC Finals. Good luck all.
Paddy RYDER (Ess) - $496,000 Av 98
Stefan MARTIN (Bris) - $450,000 Av 105
Ben McEVOY (Haw) - $442,500 Av 90
Verdict : If you are confident LUEY won’t be back to spoil the party too much, MARTIN’s scores are too much to ignore. A safer bet might be MINSON, or McEVOY.
Kade KOLODJASHNIJ - Gold Coast - $339,600 Av 72
The Suns aren’t playing this weekend so you might have a week to mull over this one, but popular rookie defender KK has tweaked his hammy and is expected to miss somewhere in the vicinity of 2 to 3 weeks. At this vital point in the SC season that’s too much risk for my liking, and although he has served his purposein the 11% of SC teams who have him it might be time to get him out – particularly if you are desperate to win to keep your finals chances alive.
Options : Dustin FLETCHER (Ess) - $371,300 Av 84
Dane RAMPE (Syd) - $356,200 Av 76
Sean DEMPSTER (StK) - $346,000 Av 77
Nick VLASTUIN (Rich) - $340,800 Av 67
Verdict : Not too much to bargain with in this lot – if you can afford it, stretch up to FLETCHER as his team is in a must-win situation each week.
Andrew WALKER - Carlton - $436,500 Av 88
It hasn’t been a great year for rebounding Blues defender WALKER, who has struggled through injury and form resulting in him having a lesser impact than last year. The 7% of SC teams who have him will be marginally happy with his 88 pt per game average, but now he’s gone in for knee surgery and won’t be seen again this year. Perhaps one to watch for 2015?
Options : Sam FISHER (St. K) - $430,300 Av 102
Kade SIMPSON (Carl) - $421,800 Av 96
Sam MITCHELL (Haw) - $412,800 Av 90
Verdict : It’s a no-brainer here. MITCHELL at that price is an absolute steal. Still if you want a POD who could go okay…anyone got the guts to latch on to FISHER?
Hayden BALLANTYNE - Fremantle - $400,700 Av 75
The 1.5% of SC teams that have selected BALLA in their lineup obviously like living on the edge right? How else could you choose a player who is so prone to hitting and getting hit? This time he’s done the whacking, out for just the one week after a misdemeanor last weekend. Its only one week, but the replacements offer some juicy potential…
Options : Josh J KENNEDY (WCE) - $395,000 Av 77
Steven MAY (GC) - $382,600 Av 77
Chad WINGARD (Port) - $377,200 Av 80
Nick RIEWOLDT (StK) - $376,900 Av 85
Verdict : Never write off a champion. With old mate Lenny Hayes announcing his pending retirement, expect Big Roo to put in a few stellar performances in the next few weeks. Get on board.
That’s it for the first half of Round 18 – fingers crossed it keeps all our premium players injury free as we sneak closer to SC Finals. Good luck all.